The final purely combustion-engined M vehicle, the G87 also happens to be the most purist M vehicle currently in production. A small coupe that packs a big punch, the M2 was designed – first and foremost – to put a big smile on your face with the way it handles.
Thing is, BMW also created a seriously fast machine. When equipped with the eight-speed automatic from ZF Friedrichshafen, the M2 needs 3.9 seconds to reach 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour). The far more satisfying manual gearbox is listed with 4.2 seconds.
The 285/30 by 20-inch rear tires definitely have a big say in the way the M2 accelerates. By comparison, the F87 M2 CS came with 265/35 by 19-inch tires. In terms of width, make that 11.2 and 10.4 inches.
The bigger the contact patch, the better when launching from a standstill. Oh, and another thing. BMW and the M division sandbag like crazy. Lest we forget, the 3.0-liter B58 engine of the M240i and M-specific S58 in the M2 develop more power and torque than advertised.
Given this information, would you put your money on the G87 in a drag race against high-performance versions of the Audi A3, Mercedes A-Class, and Porsche 718 Boxster? The culprits are the RS 3 Sportback, A 45 S, and GTS 4.0, with the Porker being the only car of the bunch to feature a naturally-aspirated engine. It's also the lightest at 1,435 kilograms (3,164 pounds) versus 1,550 (3,417) for the A 45, 1,570 (3,461) for the RS 3, and 1,725 (3,803) for the Bavarian coupe that BMW produces in Mexico rather than Germany.
The good folks at carwow referred to the G87 in the video below as the M2 Competition once, during a replay. We're still a long way off the Competition, though. It's also worth remembering the M2 is due a refresh in 2024 for the 2025 model year, while series production is expected to grind to a halt in 2029.
Despite featuring all-wheel drive, the RS 3 and A 45 simply don't hold a candle to the rear-driven M2. The most affordable M vehicle on sale today clocked an impressive 11.9 seconds in the quarter mile, with the RS 3 recording 11.9 seconds as well. But alas, the five-cylinder turbo-engined hatchback came in second.
The 718 Boxster GTS 4.0, which is listed as Boxter during a replay, crossed the quarter-mile finish line in 12 seconds flat. Even though it flaunts a hand-assembled engine, the A 45 in S flavor was dead last, posting a best time of 12.2 seconds. Over the course of no fewer than three rolling start races, the M2 asserted dominance over its unlikely rivals once again, besting all three in the half mile. Only the 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 came close, yet its high-revving boxer couldn't keep up with the twin-turbo straight-six of the M2.
Had carwow raced the Porsche and BMW on a longer runway, the Boxster would have been victorious. When equipped with the dual-clutch PDK, the Porsche tops 179 miles per hour (288 kilometers per hour) as opposed to 182 (293) for the manual. In the Bimmer's case, the M Driver's Package gives you 177 miles per hour (285 kilometers per hour) versus the standard 155 (250).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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